I was unsure what to expect as a good friend took me to visit this very European
Rothschild family home. Initally I was impressed by the enormity of the estate - green meadows and forests surrounding a natural hillock between Bicester and Aylsebury, just north of Oxford. As we approached the north facing main entrance across a massive lawn, I was transported back to the Loire Chateaux.
Although Waddesdon was built almost 200 years later, it seems that Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild built this house between 1874 and 1889 to display his outstanding art treasures to his social set, inspired specifically by
Chambord, which had 2 similar towers.
Inside, there are 45 rooms to view across 3 levels, all connected by 2 superb spiral staircases, currently carpeted in red. The rooms are large, immaculately restored and furnished with so much that is good and great - paintings, tapestries, furniture, carpets, crockery, books and artefacts.
No doubt, each one has a detailed and significant history. It seems that this wealthy family were appreciative collectors of great things. And it seems that this pattern is continuing as there are recent acquisitions, including a selection of Lucian Freud portraits, the story of Sleeping Beauty illustrated across 7 panels by Leon Bakst and Ingo Maurer's exploding porcelain chandelier, which was commissioned by Lord Rothschild in 2003.
Outside the English gardens are wonderfully proportioned and maintained. The southern terrace has manicured gardens around a classic fountain, overlooking the rolling green Berkshire hills. There are white marble statues everywhere and I was particularly impressed by subtropical ferns, palms and banana trees growing, albeit very slowly! Even the forests seem to have been planted with an eye for colour and complementary texture... such attention to detail...
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